Kenya Mall Attack: ‘No Nigerian died in Kenyan Shooting’, Nigerian Envoy

No Nigerian citizen died or suffered any injury in last Saturday’s shooting at a shopping mall in Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi, according to Nigerian High Commissioner to Kenya Akin Oyateru.

Mr. Oyateru was quoted as saying in a teleconference with the Nigerian media that Nigerians in Kenya were having a meeting at a nearby hotel during the attack.

“On that particular day, we had a pan-Nigerian meeting at one of the hotels in the city centre, therefore a large percentage of our people were at that location. On hearing the news, we tried to secure them as best as possible by beefing up security around them before they left for home.

“I can confirm to you that we are all safe in Nairobi and fortunately, no Nigerian was affected in the attack. But our heart goes to the bereaved families and we wish the injured ones a very quick recovery,’ the local Punch newspaper Thursday quoted him as saying.

According to the High Commissioner, there are around 2,500 Nigerians living in the East African nation.

PANA reports that 61 civilians and seven soldiers were killed in the shooting at the Westgate Shopping Mall.

Somalia’s Islamic terrorist group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was a reprisal for Kenya’s military operation against extremists in Somalia.